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Energy Markets

Fossil Fuels

Oil & Gas

Group backed by Bloomberg, NASA releases its first methane-hunting satellite

A coalition utilizing NASAdeveloped technology and backed by philanthropists consisting of previous New York mayor Mike Bloomberg will launch the very first in a series of satellites on Friday to determine leakages of the planetwarming gas methane from space. WHY IT is very important The launch, aboard the SpaceX Transporter-11 Rideshare objective, is a milestone for the Carbon Mapper Coalition, which was formed in 2021. The partnership consists of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, satellite firm Planet Labs, RMI and Arizona State University, with sponsorship from High Tide Structure, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Grantham Structure for the Security of the Environment, Zegar Family...

Fossil Fuels

US refiners trim Q3 output in the middle of weaker margins, plant overhauls

U.S. petroleum refiners are trimming thirdquarter production strategies, company executives said in current profits calls, as summer fuel demand recedes and profit margins stay weak. Operators state they are budgeting more maintenance downtime into projections after performing at an industry average 95% of capability earlier this year. Those high oil processing levels led to abundant gasoline stocks, which benefited vehicle drivers but hurt revenues. Matthew Blair, top refining expert at energy company Tudor, Pickering, Holt & & Co, stated refiners are showing a deteriorated margin environment in the third quarter with softer need. The hope is if you lower supply...

Oil & Gas Refining

California seeks company profits in Big Oil climate suit

California's chief law officer on Monday sought to force the world's greatest oil companies to give up revenues the state declares they made while tricking consumers about their function in adding to environment modification. The legal action comes months after a new state law went into impact that permits the attorney general of the United States to look for earnings obtained from companies while they broke laws versus unfair competition and incorrect marketing. Attorney General Rob Bonta included the so-called disgorgement remedy to a suit submitted in 2015 versus Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips and oil and gas industry...

Power Markets

US area power rates turn negative in California, Arizona again

U.S. area power prices in California and Arizona turned unfavorable again for Monday, while nextday natural gas costs in northern California fell to their lowest considering that 2001 in the middle of low need and ample low-cost hydropower and other sustainable supplies. Unfavorable prices signal there is excessive power or gas being produced in an area. Energy firms can either minimize output, pay someone to take their power or gas, or, if they can get a. permit, flare undesirable gas. Next-day power at the Palo Verde hub in. Arizona fell to unfavorable$ 2.50 per megawatt hour (MWh) for. Monday, while...

Fossil Fuels

US spot natgas costs hit record low in California, power rates remain negative

U.S. area gas costs in Southern California was up to a record low for Tuesday, while power in Arizona and California remained unfavorable amidst low energy demand over the Memorial Day holiday weekend and ample inexpensive hydropower and other sustainable supplies. Negative costs signal there is excessive power or gas being produced in a region. Energy companies can either decrease output, pay someone to take their power or gas, or, if they can get a. license, flare undesirable gas. Next-day gas prices at the Southern California (SoCal). Border slid to a record low of 92 cents per. million British thermal...

Fossil Fuels

Appealing pipelines and fracking, Trump rakes in millions at Texas fundraisers

Republican governmental prospect Donald Trump raised 10s of countless dollars during a fundraising swing through Texas today, guaranteeing he would support the oil and gas industry by backing brand-new pipelines and restoring fracking on federal land. Trump has actually courted support from the energy industry with a. pro-fossil fuel and anti-regulation agenda and routinely. criticizes President Joe Biden's policies to speed up the. energy transition toward a low-carbon economy. The oil and gas industry has boomed under Biden despite. increased regulation and the more climate-focused. administration, making record profits and pumping more oil and. gas than ever before. The market...

Fossil Fuels

US Southwest and Texas at threat of power shortfalls this summer season, regulator says

The U.S. Southwest and Texas are at an increased risk of power supply deficiencies during times of peak demand this summer season due to rising electricity usage and supply restraints, the North American Electric Dependability Corporation said on Wednesday. Parts of the Midwest and New England are likewise under elevated hazard of inadequate power supplies in high electrical energy intake periods this summer season, while the U.S. Northwest and the majority of the East Coast are expected to see regular conditions, NERC said. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Severe heat, brand-new data centers, increased manufacturing activity and electrical automobiles are raising U.S....

Fossil Fuels

California to conclude Exxon plastics probe 'in weeks', AG states

California will conclude a twoyear examination into Exxon and the fossil fuel industry's function in causing global plastic contamination by summer and decide if it will submit a claim versus oil giant, its attorney general of the United States informed on Monday. The state introduced its examination into the oil and petrochemical industry's function in producing and exacerbating the global plastic waste crisis in April 2022 and subpoenaed Exxon for files. The plastics examination mirrored similar actions it has taken on climate modification that concentrated on what the industry knew about the issue for years and how it misinformed the...

Fossil Fuels

How Monday's overall solar eclipse affects U.S. grid operators

Electric grids across the U.S. are expecting a rapid decline in solar generation during Monday's. overall solar eclipse, which will span numerous states. NASA approximates the path of totality - when the sun is totally. blocked by the moon - will last from 1:30 pm CDT (1830 GMT) to. 2:35 pm CDT in the U.S. Here's how the eclipse will affect grid operators across the. country:. ERCOT (TEXAS). The eclipse is anticipated to pass Texas from 12:10 p.m. to 3:10. p.m. CDT and cause solar power generation to dip to approximately 8%. of it optimal output at its peak, the...

Oil & Gas Exploration

Chevron to pay over $13 million in settlement for California oil spills

Chevron will pay $13.1. million in settlement contracts with two California state. firms for previous oil spills in Kern County, Bakersfield, the. California natural resources company stated on Wednesday, as the. significant oil producing state enhances regulations. Chevron, which has already spent for the clean-up costs for. its oil spills in 2019, will pay $5.6 million to the California. Department of Conservation, and $7.5 million to California. Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the company stated in a. declaration. Chevron spilled a minimum of 800,000 gallons of oil and. water into a creek bed in Kern county in 2019, according...

Oil & Gas

California's Treasurer Ma advises votes versus two Exxon directors

California Treasurer Fiona Ma, a. board member of the U.S. state's two huge pension systems, on. Friday advised both to cast votes against 2 Exxon. directors since of the energy company's unusual lawsuit. against small investors. Exxon filed the suit in January seeking to block a. investor climate resolution, avoiding the normal. regulatory procedure to ward off activist steps. The filers. withdrew the resolution, but Exxon continued the fit seeking. legal expenses and other relief. Activist financiers say the match threatens shareholder. impact. Some are campaigning for votes against two directors. at Exxon's May 29 online-only yearly conference, CEO Darren...

Environment

Environment

California wildfires torch mountain homes, ski resort

Southern California wildfires torched lots of mountain homes, tore through a ski resort and forced thousands to leave in suburban areas east of Los Angeles on Wednesday. Around 40 homes and cabins burned in the villages of Mount Baldy and Wrightwood and flames swept through the neighboring Mountain High ski resort in San Bernardino County, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. The blaze, named the Bridge Fire, blew up to over 48,000 acres (19,000 hectares), ending up being the biggest in the state and among 4 burning within sight of each other. The Southern California fires have actually blackened over...

Environment

California pot farmers feel the heat from low rates, wildfires

Smallscale marijuana farmers in California are calling it stops, crushed by crop damage from ravaging wildfires and sliding rates, and market professionals anticipate the exodus to continue nearterm in the biggest pot market in the United States. Unlike for traditional crops, pot growers can not declare government financial support for damage from extreme weather due to the fact that marijuana stays on the federal list of managed substances. These operators don't have the capability to go to FEMA ( Federal Emergency Situation Management Company) to get reimbursement for losses in a federal catastrophe zone since of the federal category, stated...

Environment

As U.S. heat deaths rise, some proprietors oppose right to a/c

Summertimes in New York City are hard for Anthony Gay and his household. A small, portable air conditioner in his bed room is the only relief they have from soaring temperature levels in their Brooklyn rental. The remainder of the apartment or condo is literally excruciating to walk through, stated Gay, 40, whose asthmatic son has a hard time to breathe in the heat. Heat can be a killer. An approximated 350 New Yorkers die prematurely each year due to the fact that of severe heat, according to the city's 2024 Heat-Related Mortality Report. Absence of access to air conditioning...

Climate Change

Pollution

Oil & Gas Exploration

United States Coast Guard states no remaining recoverable oil sheen seen off California

The U.S. Coast Guard stated on Saturday it did not observe any remaining recoverable oil shine during a morning overflight off the coast of Huntington beach, California. On Friday, the firm said it was attempting to determine the source of an oil spill off the coast after the shine, estimated at 2.5 miles (4 km) in length and 0.5 miles (800 meters) in width, was found when a Coast Guard helicopter flew over the site at dawn. Tar balls were observed along the shoreline in Huntington Beach, and onshore recovery groups will assess the coastline and eliminate them as required,...

Pollution

Chevron to pay over $13 million in settlement for Kern County oil spills

Chevron will pay $13.1. million in settlement agreements with 2 California state. agencies for previous oil spills in Kern County, Bakersfield, the. California natural deposits agency stated on Wednesday. Chevron, which has actually currently paid for the clean-up expenses for. its oil spills in 2019, will pay $5.6 million to the California. Department of Conservation, and $7.5 million to California. Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the agency stated in a. statement. Chevron spilled a minimum of 800,000 gallons of oil and. water into a creek bed in Kern county in 2019, according to. local media business. The fine is...

Pollution

US court maintains EPA choice to approve California electric-vehicle guidelines

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday upheld the Environmental Protection Agency's choice to grant California a waiver to set its own tailpipe emissions limitations and electricvehicle requirements. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia declined a legal challenge from 17 Republican-led states and entities that produce or sell liquid fuels. The EPA in March 2022 under President Joe Biden brought back California's capability to set its own zero-emission car sales required and tailpipe emissions limitations through 2025, reversing a. 2019 decision by then-President Donald Trump. California Guv Gavin Newsom said the court agreed....